As humans continue moving to urban areas, there is a growing need to understand the effects of urban intensification on native wildlife populations. Forest species in remnant habitat are particularly vulnerable to urban intensification, but the mechanisms behind these effects are poorly understood. An understanding of how species traits, as proxies for mechanisms, mediate the effects of urban intensification on forest species can help fill this knowledge gap. Using a large point count dataset from the Second Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas, we tested for the effects of species traits on the magnitude and spatial scale of the responses of 58 forest bird species to urbanization intensity in landscapes surrounding count locations. Average urbanization intensity effect size across species was -0.36 ± 0.49 (SE) and average scale of effect of urbanization intensity was 4.87 ± 5.95 km. Resident forest bird species that are granivorous or frugivorous, cavity-nesting, and have larger clutch sizes and more fledglings per clutch had more positive associations with increasing urbanization intensity in landscapes. In addition, the effect of urbanization intensity on forest birds manifested most strongly at larger spatial scales for granivorous, frugivorous, or omnivorous species that are cavity-nesting, have larger clutch sizes and longer wingspans, and flock in larger numbers. To our knowledge, the present study represents the first direct tests of the effects of species traits on both the magnitude and spatial scale of the effect of urbanization on forest birds, as well as the first evidence that migratory status, clutch size, wingspan, and fledglings per clutch are important determinants of the responses of forest birds to urbanization. We discuss the possible mechanisms underlying our results and their implications for forest bird conservation in urbanizing landscapes.
adjusted_200m_allvars
200m landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_500m_allvars
500m landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity
adjusted_1km_allvars
1km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_2km_allvars
2km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_4km_allvars
4km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_6km_allvars
6km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_8km_allvars
8km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_10km_allvars
10km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_12km_allvars
12km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
adjusted_16km_allvars
16km landscape data for: Paton GD, Shoffner AV, Wilson AM, Gagné SA. Data from: The traits that predict the magnitude and spatial scale of forest bird responses to urbanization intensity.
2ndPA_BirdAtlas_bird_counts
Point Count bird data for Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania (2004-2009), Wilson et al. 2012. Wilson, A.M., D.W. Brauning and R.S. Mulvihill (eds). 2012. Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania. Penn State Press, University Park, PA. NOTE: Count duration was 6 minutes and 15 seconds (5 times 75 second time bands) Singing birds were recorded in time bands There were two distance bands: <75 m, > 75 m (unlimited) Data for 33, 766 point count locations.
2ndPA_BirdAtlas_pointcount_location_and_conditions
Point Count location information for Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania (2004-2009), Wilson et al. 2012 Wilson, A.M., D.W. Brauning and R.S. Mulvihill (eds). 2012. Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania. Penn State Press, University Park, PA. Data for 33,766 point count locations.